Weeknight Grilling with the BBQ Queens

February 13, 2006
The authors of the BBQ Queens' Big Book of Barbecue
apply their trademark can-do spirit to the ever-popular weeknight dinner format. Every dish—whether a salad, burger, steak or otherwise—can be grilled over a variety of fires, from briquettes to wood pellets, in 45 minutes (including prep time). With tiaras planted firmly atop their heads, Adler and Fertig show how to save time by using prepared supermarket items, including salad greens, hard-boiled eggs, sliced pepperoni, already-cut cheese, shredded carrots and cabbage, and three-bean salad, rationalizing, "You'll pay a little more, but isn't your sanity worth it?" Additions to each recipe—set apart in notes headed "You've Got Dinner!"—list easy and complementary side dishes, like Sautéed Green Beans to accompany Low Country Black-Eyed Peas and Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing (although recipes for the sides, which are generally simple, aren't offered). The introductory chapter, "Weeknight Grilling with a Tiara Touch," reveals techniques, utensils and timetables. Recipes involve many trendy ingredients (e.g., hearts of palm, baby bok choi, turkey steaks), and the sheer variety of ingredients will let home cooks call on whatever happens to be in their pantry. 2-color illus.

March 15, 2006
The BBQ Queens -the ones who wear tiaras while they grill -are back, with a follow-up to The BBQ Queens - Big Book of Barbecue. Here they present 100 easy recipes that can usually be prepared in 30 to 45 minutes or less. Most of them include suggestions for rounding out the menu, and many provide timesavers ( -Tiara Tips -); boxes titled -Life in the Fast Lane - offer additional ideas for quick fixes, finishing touches, and the like. The tiara gimmick wears thin after a while, but the recipes are fresh, simple, and appealing. For most collections.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.